KLEM PM News Update, July 11, 2011

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His next step was working on the high school year book and then as biology major in college, Ken spent a lot of time noticing nature. But it wasn't until he became a Christian in college that taking pictures started to become an integral part of his life.

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After working in the biology field and for a family business, Ken got involved at the photo department at an Orange City Hallmark store in the late 90's. Freelance work followed that, and then four years ago he purchased a building downtown Orange City that is now home to his business...Centrum Arts and Foto. People started asking about portrait photography so Ken thought he might want to shift his approach.

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Even though one of Ken's fondest memories are tied to a picture forming on a piece of paper in the dark room, digital photography is something that he has fully embraced.

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Ken continues his photography journey as a portrait photographer by constantly learning and bettering his craft. He currently sells his nature, landscape and Orange City related pictures out of Centrum Arts and Foto, but hopes to find new ways to market his nature photography outside of the region.

Historical Museum Needs Help for the Fair

(LE MARS) If you make a cherry pie that should win you awards or have garden produce to spare the Plymouth County Historical Museum needs your help. With the Plymouth County Fair just over 2 weeks away, the Museum is beginning to stock up for the Country Store, located at the fair's Pioneer Village.

All kinds of baked goods -- fruit pies, cakes, bars, cookies, candy and bread -- are needed for the store. If possible, the name of the baker and the recipe should be attached. This year's Country Store will be dedicated to the memory of Ron Burkard, who with his wife, Delores, operated the store for many years. Delores will continue to manage the store, with the help of other Museum volunteers.

Also special this year, the store is putting out a special call for cherry-related products such as pies, cobblers, breads and anything else cherry-related, all in memory of Cherry Cliff. Cherry Cliff was a Plymouth County historian who died in May of this year. All cherry items need to have a recipe attached and homespun items such as quilts and crafts featuring a cherry theme also are needed.

Also for fair week, the Museum needs garden produce and other homemade items for the Country Store.

The store is located next to the country school in Pioneer Village and will be open at noon, Wednesday, July 27, and remain open each day until about 10 p.m. through Sunday, July 31. Candy and ice cream will be available in the store on Tuesday for 4-H entry day.

All proceeds from the Country Store will go to preserve Plymouth County history. Those wishing to make donations of produce, baked goods or homespun items may take them to the store anytime, including the morning. Anyone wishing to help should call the Museum: 546-7002.

Gov. Branstad expects fewer state worker layoffs

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Gov. Terry Branstad says fewer state workers will be laid off than initially thought because of the state's budget crunch.

The governor told reporters at his weekly news conference Monday that he's now received the budget approved by this year's Legislature and will spend the rest of the month combing through it. Branstad initially predicted that hundreds of state workers would be laid off because of budget reductions but he says efficiencies that have been found will trim that number.

Branstad didn't have an exact number for layoffs, saying that will depend on how he handles spending measures awaiting action and decisions by Congress about federal programs.

Branstad says he's generally pleased with the budget lawmakers sent to him, but it will be a month before he makes final decisions.

Thunderstorms rage over central, eastern Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Thousands of people are without power and residents are beginning the clean-up after powerful storms toppled trees and power lines across parts of central and eastern Iowa.

The most powerful storms hit just north of Des Moines early Monday morning and continued to strengthen as they moved east.

Jeff Zogg with the National Weather Service in Des Moines says the most significant damage was reported in Story, Marshall, Tama and Benton counties with wind gusts topping 70 to 80 mph.

Story County Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator Melissa Spencer says the southern part of the county was hit the hardest.

KGAN-TV in Cedar Rapids is reporting damage to a hospital in Vinton and to Urbana Middle School in Urbana, where a section of the roof was torn off.

New Hampshire Senate President Peter Bragdon (BRAG'-dun) tells The Associated Press that Perry called him over the weekend to gauge his support and seek his thoughts on what might happen if he entered the race and ``shook things up a little bit.''

Perry also was making calls to GOP leaders in Iowa, which holds the first contest in the fight for the Republican nomination. He left a voicemail Sunday telling Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds he looked forward to meeting her soon. Other Republicans were called, too.

Bragdon says Perry is doing his homework as he weighs whether to run.

Latham raises more than $580,000 for 2012 campaign

WASHINGTON (AP) Rep. Tom Latham raised more than $580,000 for his 2012 re-election campaign in the second quarter of 2011, the first reporting period since Iowa's redistricting plan was implemented.

According to Latham's campaign, the nine-term congressman has $1.5 million cash on hand as he moves from his current, north-central Iowa district to a southwest Iowa district where he will challenge incumbent Democratic Rep. Leonard Boswell.

The deputy treasurer for Latham's campaign, Elizabeth Severson, says Latham's haul is the most his committee has raised in a single quarter. Boswell hasn't released his second quarter fundraising numbers. Candidates are required to do so by July 15.

Latham is attempting to win a district that is virtually all new terrain, comprised of 16 counties in the southwest and including Des Moines.

Iowa says 74-year-old inmate died in medical unit

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) Authorities say a 74-year-old sex offender has died at the Iowa State Penitentiary medical unit in Fort Madison.

A state news release says Jack Franks was found unresponsive, without a pulse or heartbeat, in his bed at 3:20 a.m. Sunday. The release says that because Franks had signed a do-not-resuscitate order, no attempt to revive him was made.

The release says Franks suffered from several conditions, including coronary artery disease.

Franks was serving a 20-year sentence that began in July 2005. He'd been convicted in Pottawattamie County of four counts of lascivious acts with a child.

2 Iowa regents to surrender leadership roles

URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) The president and president pro tem of the Iowa Board of Regents are resigning from their board leadership roles.

President David Miles announced in a letter posted on the regents' website Monday that Gov. Terry Branstad urged him and Jack Evans to resign rather than complete the leadership terms that ran through April 30.

Miles says they initially declined but then decided to step down as soon as the board chose a new president and president pro tem. That vote is expected Tuesday, during a special telephonic meeting.

Miles says he and Evans didn't want governance issues to be a distraction. Both men are remaining on the board as regents, however.

A spokesman for Branstad confirmed the governor had asked for their resignations, saying it was time for new leadership.

Former clerk at Iowa center gets probation

GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) A former accounting clerk at the Glenwood Resource Center has been given a deferred judgment and a year of probation for stealing from an account at the center for developmentally disabled Iowans.

Fifty-six-year-old Carol Tibben had pleaded guilty to theft after a making a deal with prosecutors. A fraud charge was dropped.

Court records also say Tibben was ordered to make complete restitution.

A state audit report released on Monday says there were 17 unauthorized cash withdrawals between Jan. 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010, that totaled nearly $3,400. The audit says Tibben repaid more than $2,500 before she resigned in June 2010.